Chapter 42: Loyal Oranges or Scallions (Part Two)

"I still look forward to your guidance, Patriarch Dōhan," Aburame Shibi said.

"Guidance is hardly the word. After all, compared to a veteran clan head like you, I am merely a newcomer who has just taken over the Uchiha clan," Uchiha Dōhan said with a smile. "However, if I were to put myself in your shoes, I do have a small suggestion."

"Please go ahead, Patriarch Dōhan," Shibi replied.

"What the village and the villagers want to see is nothing more than an attitude," Dōhan said. "Otherwise, even if the Aburame clan could produce evidence proving you had nothing to do with Danzō's criminal syndicate, I doubt they would believe it."

As for this attitude—Dōhan looked at Shibi with a light smile—what could be more convincing than the Aburame clan taking personal action and participating in the dismantling of Shimura Danzō and his criminal syndicate's conspiracy?

When Dōhan's voice faded, Shibi fell into silence.

After a moment, Shibi let out a long sigh and spoke, "I understand."

Then, Shibi turned to an Aburame jōnin beside him and instructed, "Go and bring Torune here."

Shibi felt a boundless sense of helplessness. Their clan's secret insect-rearing techniques were simply too useful for both reconnaissance and assassination. Ever since the Warring States period, ambitious figures in the ninja world had never ceased harassing their clan. If not for the fact that their secret techniques dictated that only those with their clan's bloodline could establish a connection with the bugs, the Aburame clan probably would have been wiped out during the Warring States era. This was precisely why, when Senju Hashirama first proposed founding the village, the Aburame clan was among the very first ninja clans to respond to his call.

Yet, they had not enjoyed peaceful days for long after the village's establishment. Following the deaths of the First and Second Hokage, ambitious schemers like Danzō reared their heads once again, setting their sights on the Aburame clan.

Now that Danzō was dead, Uchiha Dōhan had likely come here harboring the exact same intentions.

Over so many years, the Aburame clan naturally had their own way of surviving. Whenever they encountered such irresistible demands, they would send forth a talented youngster from the clan to buy a period of peace and protection.

Soon, a young boy of only eight or nine years old, wearing dark sunglasses and a face mask that completely concealed his expression, was brought into the reception room.

"What is the meaning of this, Patriarch Aburame?" Dōhan frowned and asked.

"Patriarch Dōhan, due to a genetic mutation in his bloodline, Torune has a natural, superior affinity for nano-sized venomous insects. How about letting him represent our Aburame clan by joining the Military Police Force?" Shibi said.

Seeing this, Dōhan smiled helplessly. "I believe Patriarch Shibi has misunderstood. I merely wanted to invite Aburame ninja to serve in the Military Police Force. Why on earth would you bring a child who hasn't even finished the Ninja Academy? The Military Police Force does not hire child labor."

Hearing this, Shibi was momentarily stunned. What did this mean? Didn't ambitious people like them always cultivate loyal subordinates from childhood?

"Patriarch Aburame, could it be that you take me for an ambitious schemer like Danzō?" Dōhan's expression turned displeased, and the entire reception room fell so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

"It was presumptuous of me. Please forgive me, Patriarch Dōhan!" Shibi decisively lowered his head to apologize, then signaled for Aburame Torune to withdraw.

"Patriarch Aburame, you know how it is. Because our Military Police Force often has to deal directly with the villagers face-to-face, misunderstandings are inevitable during the law enforcement process. Consequently, some unfavorable rumors are bound to circulate within the village. However, the guiding principle of our Military Police Force has always been to serve the village wholeheartedly under the guidance of the Will of Fire. Therefore, we pay little mind to these rumors, though I never expected them to cause Patriarch Shibi to misunderstand," Dōhan said.

"Patriarch Dōhan embodies the Will of Fire and is a model for us Konoha ninja. It was merely my own petty mindset." Although he still did not understand what Dōhan was truly aiming for, Shibi could only lower his head and offer an apology once more.

"Very well, Patriarch Shibi is blameless," Dōhan waved his hand. "If anyone is to be blamed, it is that ambitious Shimura Danzō. Had he not previously forced the Aburame clan to hand over your clan's genius, Patriarch Shibi would certainly not have had such a misunderstanding of me."

Dōhan effortlessly shifted the entire blame onto Danzō.

"Indeed, indeed! It is all the fault of that damned Shimura Danzō!" Shibi hastily echoed.

"In that case, Patriarch Shibi might as well consider my suggestion. The Military Police Force has always offered generous remuneration for talented ninja," Dōhan said. "Moreover, given the current circumstances, if we want to dispel the villagers' doubts, I can think of nothing more fitting than having an Aburame clan member serve as a Military Police Force captain leading the effort to crush the sins of Shimura Danzō's criminal syndicate."

"I understand," Shibi said. "I will dispatch a jōnin from our clan, along with several special jōnin and chūnin, to serve in the Military Police Force."

The conditions Dōhan offered were indeed generous, and Shibi had also heard whispers about the current remuneration for a Military Police Force captain. In his view, Dōhan was displaying the utmost sincerity; more importantly, they currently had zero room for choice.

However, right at that moment, Dōhan spoke up again. "Even so, while that may be true, the position of Military Police Force captain cannot simply be assigned without any merits, or the subordinates below will not be convinced. After all, the Military Police Force is not my personal domain."

"The Aburame clan will provide full assistance to ensure the clan members joining the Military Police Force quickly earn merits sufficient to convince the masses," Shibi replied.

"There is no need to go to such trouble," Dōhan smiled upon hearing this. "Out of consideration for the village's stability, as fellow ninja clans, we of the Uchiha do not wish to see the Aburame clan fall into trouble either. Therefore, I have already prepared merits sufficient to convince everyone for you. That is also why I chose to visit in a private capacity."

As he spoke, Dōhan produced the incriminating evidence he had obtained from Yamamoto Tarō and placed it before Shibi.

Shibi took the documents and after glancing at them for a few moments, he raised his head. Although Shibi wore dark sunglasses and a mask in accordance with his clan's habits, his slightly trembling hands betrayed the turmoil within his heart.

The crimes detailed in this evidence were far more severe than the portion concerning Aburame Rōma that Dōhan had shown him earlier. Furthermore, there were clear traces of the Utatane and Mitokado clans' involvement as well. This sent a wave of cold sweat streaming down Shibi's back. If the evidence contained only the crimes of the Shimura clan, Shibi would have agreed without a second thought; after all, following Danzō's death and under the Uchiha's retaliation, the current Shimura clan was no different from stray dogs on the street. But this involved two other founding clans...

Shibi understood that if they wanted to escape unscathed from the fallout surrounding Aburame Rōma, they had to offer a pledge of allegiance of sufficient weight—and this, presumably, was Uchiha Dōhan's true objective.